The Arsenal players have lost confidence in beleaguered manager Unai Emery after Saturday’s draw with Southampton, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The newspaper claims that there is a growing feeling among the Gunners squad that he needs to be replaced, as they don’t believe he is the man to salvage their season.
The players are confused by his team selections, tactics and instructions, although he still has the odd supporter within the dressing room.
If the former Paris Saint-Germain man is relieved of his duties, the most likely scenario is that assistant first team coach Freddie Ljungberg would take over on an interim basis, with Steve Bould supporting him.
Is time really up for Emery?
It certainly seems like it, doesn’t it?
Getting a last minute goal to scrape to a 2-2 draw at home to relegation fodder Southampton simply isn’t good enough for a club the size of Arsenal. Emery has his team sitting eighth in the Premier League table, but they are already eight points behind Chelsea in fourth.
Champions League qualification is going to be very difficult for the Gunners to secure this campaign. Liverpool and Manchester City are nailed on for the top four, while Chelsea and Leicester City look good bets, as well. Then there’s the Jose Mourinho-led Tottenham Hotspur.
Plus, if the Arsenal players are starting to cast doubt on the manager, what hope does he have? They clearly don’t buy into his vision, and so they won’t be performing at their best.
Ljungberg has been coaching at the Emirates Stadium for some time, while Bould is obviously hugely experienced. They would be a safe pair of hands while a new man is sounded out.
